Taking Charge of Your Year Abroad

A year abroad is a scary thing. Leaving my home country, my family and my friends behind to start a whole new life abroad entirely from scratch was definitely the most daunting thing I've ever done. Lots of things can happen while you're away that are totally out of your control and can make you feel small, weak and worthless. Maybe your flat-share is a nightmare, you fail an exam, you get your wallet/phone stolen or you get shouted at in a shop for not understanding...

The trick is to grab hold of the things that you can control and mould them to your liking! A year abroad is a fantastic opportunity to try new things, meet new people and explore the world. You're the one who has to live through this year so don't let a few sad/disappointing moments get you down; take charge of your new life!

Your attitude needs to be positive from the start; maybe you're a little disappointed with where you were placed by British Council but I can assure you that every destination has its pros and cons. The first step is to do some research on where you'll be heading and see what takes your fancy. Grab a piece of blank paper and a pen and write down anything that you want to do/experience on your year abroad. This has to be things that it's entirely down to you to achieve - don't write things like "make lots of new friends" or "become totally fluent in Spanish/French etc" as these are either reliant on other people or not easily measured/ticked off.

For example after reading a few guidebooks on Madrid I wrote:

Go salsa dancing
Go to a Jazz club
Practice using my Camera/photography
Start clarinet lessons
Visit Segovia and Toledo
Take up a sport
Keep a year abroad blog
Keep in touch with the other students from my uni

By setting these targets for myself it helped me feel like my time away was worth something - my first couple of months abroad may have been a bit difficult but at least I managed to visit my first ever Jazz club. After my original list was ticked off I started writing a new one every month with all the things I wanted to experience in Madrid before I came home. Not only did this mean that I was filling my free time productively and enjoying myself, it also helped me to keep track of the time I was away and ultimately got rid of my homesickness completely.

It's all very well making lists of fun things to do, I hear you cry, but what about the serious stuff? What if I hate my job, I have no friends, my flatmates are awful, my language isn't improving or I don't understand my lecturers? Well, the same positive attitude needs to be applied to these situations. After about 3 months abroad and a good few sleepless nights and teary Skype calls home I honestly remember sitting down and writing a list that began with

1. Make work less rubbish
2. Find a new flat.

My internship hadn't been advertised and when I actually turned up to the office I found I was being given hardly anything to do. This made me feel so useless and like it had all been a waste of time but I made up my mind to improve things and by making sure that I consistently asked for new tasks everyday I was gradually given more responsibility. Though I was also lucky in that my first internship only lasted 6 months and I managed to find myself a new one working in a huge bookshop on Gran Vía. Likewise, the first flat I moved into had seemed perfect but after a couple of months it was clear I had made a mistake; we all lived in fear of the landlady's daughter who would shout at us like children if we so much as left a bowl in the sink. I made up my mind to move and I did. I'm not saying any of this is easy, the month of flat-searching that followed was the most stressful time of my year abroad, but I'm so much happier now that I took charge of my own situation. I now live in a little flat in a great location with 3 lovely housemates and am loving the rest of my time here in Madrid.

If you're not happy with the way your time abroad is going - change it! I know this is much easier said than done (believe me I do) and sometimes downright impossible. But this article is about what is possible. If you're hating your time away for reasons outside of your control then there's not much that you can do but endure it. If, however, you can make a positive difference to how things turn out then take the plunge! Ask for help from your lecturer, find a new flat, stand up for yourself at work, join that new club or get yourself a fun language exchange partner - you won't regret it! The year abroad is about setting off on your own personal adventure and it's you who charts the course.

(This article has just been published on thirdyearabroad.com, to see the article on the website just follow this link -  http://www.thirdyearabroad.com/home/item/2642-taking-charge-of-your-year-abroad.html)

El Mercado de San Miguel

I've actually been back in England's green and pleasant land for just under two weeks now but, what with visiting people, checking on my house for uni next year and generally doing a whole lot of nothing much at home, this blog has been taking a bit of a back seat. Don't worry though; soon you'll be treated to the obligatory long, emotional end of year abroad reflection but for now here's a post on one of the most famous food markets in Madrid - El Mercado de San Miguel.

 

 

Housed in an old cast iron and glass building just off Plaza Mayor this market is a must see on any trip to Madrid.



 

 

 

 

 

 

A foodie's paradise, San Miguel is packed with people and its stalls are heaving under the weight of the delicacies on offer. Great salty hams hang from the walls, shining fish are nestled on beds of crushed ice and all manner of gorgeous, bite-size tapas stand in rows under glass covered counters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're after a huge Spanish lunch with your family or friends then look elsewhere. Table space here is scarce and prices high. What San Miguel is perfect for, however, is a few tasty morsels of authentic Spanish cuisine munched while wandering around and taking in its sights and smells. Why not follow up your jamón with something sweet? Multicoloured macaroons, crunchy almonds drizzled with golden honey, shining custard tarts dusted with cinamon and refreshingly creamy frozen yogurt are all on offer alongside much more:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fruit and vegetables here are almost unbelievably perfect; good to look at but far too overpriced to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

Dotted throughout the market are drinks stalls carrying iced bottles of beer and huge fish-bowl sized gin and tonics. Nobody can visit Madrid and not try a mojito of some sort:

 





A beautiful old building with gorgeous food, a buzzing atmosphere and an incredibly central location, El Mercado de San Miguel really can't be ignored. If you're visiting Madrid even for a couple of days be sure to visit this impressive temple to all things food.

Top 3 Rooftop Bars in Madrid

One of the best things about Europe is its café culture; the warm weather often leads to a wave of chairs and tables spreading out onto the pavements and plazas. In Madrid, to maximise the space, things have also spread upwards to the rooftops and it's here that you can find the best views, music and atmosphere on a summer night. After managing to visit a few during my time in this lovely city I thought I would list my top 3 rooftop bars to give you an idea of where to head when in need of a drink.

1. El Círculo de Bellas Artes - La Azotea

Without doubt the most famous rooftop bar in Madrid is on top of the Círculo de Bellas Artes. If you visit one of the bars on this list make it this one! Although the fame comes with a hefty price tag (it costs 4 euros for a ticket to just get up to the terrace let alone buy a drink...) on a hot summer night it's definitely worth it. With panoramic views of the city, comfy lounge areas to lie down and enjoy a mojito or two, a chilled soundtrack and an atmosphere that leaves you ready to start the night this is the place to be! Try to arrive a little before sunset to watch the sky burn fiery orange and the city become a sea of lights.

 

 

 

 

 

2. El Palacio de Cibeles/Comunicaciones

 

If, as is often the case, you can't get a space at the Círculo then this is your next best option - literally within sight while standing on the terrace (see the picture above) is the Palacio de Cibeles or Palacio de Comunicaciones. Though it doesn't quite reach the lofty height of the Círculo's 7th floor you still get a great view of the Plaza de Cibeles all lit up at night and, as you're a little lower, the chance to people watch! There's a wide range of cocktails on offer to sip as you enjoy the view and plates of nibbles to munch on. The only less than good thing about this bar is the music - techno beats turned up high. Try and get a table round to the side overlooking the plaza; better views and not so loud!

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. El Viajero

 

Last, but by no means least, on the list is El Viajero. This is a somewhat different affair to the swanky Círculo or Palacio. Small and cosy with lovely views of the San Francisco and San Andreas churches, El Viajero is the place to come and enjoy a relaxing drink with friends. Draped in hanging baskets full of plants of every kind and equipped with gentle mist fans this is a lovely spot to watch the sun go down. Their food isn't up to much but their mojitos are famous.

 

 

 



 

So here ends the roundup of my top 3 rooftop bars in Madrid. I hope you've found some inspiration for your next night out in the city and enjoy sipping your drink while taking in those gorgeous views!